Old Quarry Golf Course wins Readers' Choice award

Tee off at the Caribbean's best golf course

Laidback, fun, insanely beautiful – these are a few of the phrases you could use to describe the experience of golfing in the Caribbean, and there are more choices than ever for teeing off in the tropical sun.

Old Quarry Golf CourseCuracao

The Pete Dye-designed Old Quarry course at the Santa Barbara Golf & Beach Resort in Curacao affords views of both the Caribbean and the craggy limestone formations of Mount Tafelberg. The course itself is characterized by wide, rolling fairways, raised greens and a sense of seclusion thanks to separations between holes.Photo courtesy of Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort

Teeth of the Dog at Casa de CampoLa Romana, Dominican Republic

Carved from the natural rock and coral of the Dominican coastline, Teeth of the Dog is a Pete Dye signature 18-hole course with seven holes right along the ocean. It's consistently ranked among the best courses in Latin America.Photo courtesy of Leading Hotels of the World

Punta Espada Golf CoursePunta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Espada, a course designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, is a par-72 course that follows the natural contours of its coastal setting while offering spectacular ocean views. Its signature 13th hole is a memorable one, with a tee shot over the water to an island green.Photo courtesy of Punta Espada Golf Club

The Abaco ClubAbaco, Bahamas

The Scottish style “tropical links” at The Abaco Club were designed by British course architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie. Hugging the coast, the course features sloping greens, rugged rocks and lush vegetation, and golfers can polish their skills in the expansive practice facility.Photo courtesy of The Abaco Club on Winding Bay

Provo Golf ClubProvidenciales, Turks & Caicos

This natural, rugged championship course surrounded by the flora and fauna of the Turks and Caicos offers 18 holes of challenging "target-style" golf whilst maintaining a quick pace of play. Colorful native birds inhabit the many lakes, and the course has recently been re-turfed with salt tolerant Platinum Paspalum grass in an effort to be more environmentally conscious. Facilities include a full-service proshop, practice warm-up and chipping areas and Titleist club rentals.Photo courtesy of Provo Golf Club

Opened in 2010, this Tom Fazio-designed course includes six oceanside holes, as well as abundant natural features, like cliffs, ocean coves and inland lakes. The last three holes, known as Devil's Elbow, involves a forced carry over the Bay of Corales. Photo courtesy of Leading Hotels of the World

The Country Club at Sandy LaneBarbados

Five lakes, lush greens and impeccable fairways await golfers at The Country Club course at Sandy Lane. This par-72, 7,060-yard course from Tom Fazio offers incredible sea views from several holes.Photo courtesy of Sandy Lane

CuisinArt Golf Club CourseAnguilla

Players teeing off at the first hole of the CuisinArt Golf Club Course are greeted by stellar views of the Caribbean Sea and St. Maarten, and the next nine holes hug the Anguilla Channel. One of the signature landmarks of the course is its Merrywing Salt Pond. CuisinArt is slated to reopen after Hurricane Irma in November 2018.Photo courtesy of CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa

East Course at Dorado BeachDorado Beach, Puerto Rico

When Robert Trent Jones Jr. restored the East Course at Dorado Beach, he elevated it to one of the best courses in the region. Fifteen of the 18 holes enjoy ocean views, and the bunkers are filled with native sand harvested from the nearby beaches.Photo courtesy of Dorado Beach

The top 10 winners in the Best Caribbean Golf Course category are as follows:

The Experts

Melanie Reffes

Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com , she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog ' The Caribbean Romance Report' on MarryCaribbean.com. When she she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Melanie Reffes

Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com , she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog ' The Caribbean Romance Report' on MarryCaribbean.com. When she she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.